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Doctor Who The Greatest Show in the Galaxy [VHS] [1963]

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Doctor Who The Greatest Show in the Galaxy [VHS] [1963]

VHS ~ Sylvester McCoy

3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

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1 new from �14.98 6 used from �9.85

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Product details

Actors: Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Ian Reddington, TP McKenna
Format: PAL
Language English
Classification: PG
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
VHS Release Date: 24 Jan 2000
Run Time: 100 minutes

Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

ASIN: B00004D2X9
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 4,324 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review
Doctor Who isn't really known for its villains having a high level of creepiness for anyone over the age of 10 but if you have any sort of clown phobia, this adventure is sure to confirm your worst fears about them. The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Ace land on a barren planet that is hosting the Psychic Circus, which has fallen on hard times. Now, any soul unfortunate enough to stumble into the big top is forced to entertain in the centre ring with typically fatal results. The Doctor tries to find out who or what is behind it all and the resulting story comes off like an allegory for the series itself. After a creative slump in the mid-1980s, Doctor Who was finding its footing again, although the story is burdened by throwing as many disparate elements as possible (including an animated corpse, a wolf girl and even the Gods of Ragnarok) into the mix. The Gods, not unlike the audience, demand to be kept entertained, but for the most part the best the Doctor can do is some cheap conjuring tricks while waiting for the inevitable climax. The most effective element throughout is the menace provided by Ian Reddingon (a regular on EastEnders) as the Chief Clown, sending victims to their doom with wave of his hand and a perpetual smile painted on his face. --Ryan K. Johnson

Synopsis
The Doctor's seventh incarnation gets under way with his discovery of the truth about an extremely strange psychic circus.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	53% buy the item featured on this page: Doctor Who The Greatest Show in the Galaxy [VHS] [1963] 3.8 out of 5 stars (13)
	12% buy Doctor Who - Horns Of Nimon [VHS] [1979] 3.2 out of 5 stars (9)
	12% buy Doctor Who - The Happiness Patrol [VHS] [1988] 3.3 out of 5 stars (9)
	11% buy Doctor Who - The Curse of Fenric [1989] [DVD] [1963] 4.2 out of 5 stars (22) �6.98

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

3.8 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lives Up To It's Name!, 27 Jul 2000

By A Customer

The once glorious Psychic Circus has set up on the desolate world of Segonax, and when the Doc + Ace arrive they are forced by the sinister Chief Clown to take part in a deadly talent show along with other ''visitors'', in which the performers are judged by an old-fashioned family of three and, if judged as unsatisfactory, are vapourised. With the aid of werewolf Mags and the Bellboy, the Doc sets out to discover the true identity of the unsettling family and winds up having a few brawls with robotic clowns.....

After the disasters of the late Baker/early McCoy eras Doctor Who finally gives us a great season, to which this story is a perfect end and the second best (after the truly awesome Rememberance). There's never a dull moment, with sinister robot clowns, murderous bus condutors, werewolves and zombies being just a few of the attractions. McCoy's at his best so far, while Ace really is starting to shine. Easily the scariest Who in years.

James

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clown House, 5 May 2009

By	Binro The Heretic "mattieboyz" (Hillsborough, Sheffield) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

While there are undoubtedly some weaknesses and plot holes in this Seventh Doctor story, it remains one of the best 80s stories thanks to some menacing characters, McCoy's performance and Ian Reddington's turn as a psychotic clown. The problem is that writer Stephen Wyatt (as with his previous story 'Paradise Towers') has simply tried to cram too many elements into the story and has consequently over-egged the pudding. That said, the story is dramatic, creepy and intriguing. Listen, if you want adult drama with strong themes and a watertight script then Doctor Who ain't for you; it's a show for kids, and for the kid in all of us.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, 25 Nov 2004

By	John Heaton (Budapest, Hungary) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

The 7th Doctor passed me by the first time around as I was still in There Is No Doctor Worth Worth His Salt After Tom Baker mode....I am happy to say that I am being proved wrong 15+ years later, especially with regard to the 5th Doctor and most surpisingly to the 7th Doctor. He is my Hungarian wife's favourite Doctor! Just as my grandmother's favourite was the First Doctor. And my young boys (4 and 3)seem pretty impressed as well. I now accept that the later Doctors indeed had CONSIDERABLE merit. This is one of the best McCoy era stories and I was nothing than genuinely amazed at the quality of virtually everything about it. It may not be The Green Death or The Sea Devils but it is MIGHTY fine. I stand corrected Sylvestor. You were, at least in your second and third seasons a FINE Doctor. It is very satisfying to have my previous prejudices rendered UTTERLY redundant. And yes, the Clowns were inspired and indeed SPOOKY. Oh Ye Cynics DISAPPEAR!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugh!
So, then. The Greatest Show in the Galaxy. A tale with a decent reputation, a tale that has been well received by everyone else who's reviewed it so far. Read more

Published on 5 Jan 2007 by ol

5.0 out of 5 stars The greatest McCoy story in the galaxy!
Greatest Show In The Galaxy is a cherishably surreal voyage into previously unknown territory. Taking as its starting point the oft-repeated maxim that clowns are scary (they are,... Read more

Published on 8 Jan 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars A chilhood nightmare........................
When i first saw this story i was 4, and the only part of it that stood in my mind were the clowns! Read more

Published on 27 April 2003 by bluebobbyb

3.0 out of 5 stars Claustrophobic horror but the ending is weak
Sylvester McCoy, despite his short tenure, ranks alongside Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker as one of the great Doctors. Read more

Published on 4 Feb 2003 by Martin Turner

5.0 out of 5 stars Welcome, one and all to the Psychic Circus!
This story is one of the most creepy and chilling of the 7th doctors era(along with the curse of fenric). Read more

Published on 8 Sep 2001 by evilmarmalade

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't believe what you read
I love Dr Who and (almost) everything about it. But this story is just barrel-scraping tosh. Sorry, but the camp clowns are just not frightening. Read more

Published on 7 Sep 2001 by G. Bradley

4.0 out of 5 stars Strange and brilliant.
If Doctor Who could frighten anyone over the age of ten, this is one story that could do it. There has always been something peculiarly sinister about clowns and it is amazing... Read more

Published on 26 Dec 2000 by cliveya

4.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Wow this is quite a macbre story. I found the head clown rather creepy and the family sitting in the circus was wierd. Read more

Published on 25 Jun 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Greatest show of the galaxy is one of my faviourite Dr Who's ever. It is surley the best McCoy story. Excellent acting all around apart from T. Read more

Published on 5 May 2000 by Mr. C. Lewis

4.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Show of the McCoy Era
A traditional Dr Who story with excellent characterisation, plus superb incidental music from Mark Ayres. Read more

Published on 9 Mar 2000

› See all 13 customer reviews...

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